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(9) "Cord" means the same as "bungee cord".

(10) "Dynamic loading" means the load placed on the attachments by the initial free fall of the jumper and the bouncing movements of the jumper.

(11) "Equipment" means each component which is utilized in a bungee jump operation, including power or manually operated devices to raise, lower, and hold loads.

(12) "Fence" means a permanent or temporary structure designed and constructed to restrict people, animals and objects from entering the designated bungee jumping area.

(13) "Incident" means an event that could or does result in:

(a) injury to a person,

(b) damage to equipment, or

(c) the interruption or stopping of bungee jumping operations.

(14) "Jump area" means the maximum area in all directions designed for the movement of the jumper.

(15) "Jump crew" means all personnel who assist the jump master in preparing a jumper for jumping.

(16) "Jump direction" means the direction in which a jumper is aimed when jumping from the jump point.

(17) "Jump height" means the distance from where the jumper begins to fall to the bottom of the jump zone.

(18) "Jump master" means a person who has responsibility for the bungee jumping operation, and including a person who takes a jumper through the final stages to the actual jump and who operates the lowering system whereby the jumper is lowered to the landing pad.

(19) "Jump operator" means a person who assists the jump master in preparing a jumper for jumping.

(20) "Jump point" means the position from which the jumper falls or begins to fall.

(21) "Jump space" means the jump zone plus the safety space.

(22) "Jump zone" means the space bounded by the maximum designed movements of the jumper or any part of the jumper.

(23) "Jumper" means the person who falls from a height attached to a bungee cord.

(24) "Jumper harness" means an assembly to be worn by a jumper and to be attached to a bungee cord. Such harness is designed to prevent the jumper from becoming detached from the bungee cord.

(25) "Jumper weight" means the weight of the jumper only.

(27) "Landing pad" means the padded area on which the jumper is off-loaded after jumping by means of the lowering appliance or equipment.

(28) "Lateral direction" means the movement of the jumper measured at 90 degrees to the designed jump direction.

(29) "Loaded length" means the length of the bungee cord when extended to its fullest designed length when jumping.

(30) "Lowering system" means the lowering system is a combination of components that connects the jumper through the bungee cord to an attachment point on the structure. The system includes, but is not limited to, ropes, cables, pulleys, carabineers, shackles, and lowering equipment.

(31) "Operating system" means the system of processing a jumper through the jump methods used on a particular site, including registration, preparation, getting to the jump point, methods of attachment, jumping, lowering system, and the landing recovery method.

(32) "Operations manual" means the document that contains the procedures and forms for the operation of the bungee jumping activity and equipment on the stated site.

(33) "Owner" means the person who owns or operates or both owns and operates, a bungee jumping operation, or the lessee if a bungee jumping operation or any of its component parts are leased.

(34) "Permanent platform" means the apparatus attached to a fixed structure from which the jumper falls or jumps.

(35) "Preparation area" means the area where the jumper is prepared for jumping. It is a separate area on the ground, the support structure, or part of the platform.

(36) "Professional mechanical engineer" means a person who holds a valid license as a professional engineer.

(37) "Recovery area" means an area adjacent to the landing area where the jumper may recover from the jump before returning to the public area.

(38) "Safe working load" (SWL) means the maximum rated load which can be safely handled under specified conditions by a machine, equipment or component of the rigging.

(39) "Safety factor" means the ratio obtained by dividing the breaking load of any piece of equipment by its safe working load.

(40) "Safety harness" means an assembly to be worn by a staff member or jumper. It is designed to be attached to a safety line and to prevent the wearer from becoming detached from the safety line.

(42) "Safety space" means the space extending beyond the jump zone as a safety factor, that is, the space beyond the maximum designed movements of the jumper.

(43) "Structure" means a permanent tower or similar erection that is used, or proposed to be used, for bungee jumping.

(44) "Testing authority" means an organization acceptable to the department for the purpose of testing the performance of bungee cords, equipment, and structure.

(45) "Thread" means a single strand of material used in a bungee cord which is constructed of a varying number of threads.

(46) "Unloaded length" means the length of the bungee cord lying on a horizontal flat surface without load or stress applied.

(47) "Department" means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation of the State of South Carolina.

(48) "Director" means the director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation or the director's designee.

(49) "Bungee jumping facility" means an establishment where bungee jumping is performed.

(50) "Webbing" means a flat, tubular, mountaineering material sewn into double or triple loops used as an attachment on bungee cords.

(51) "Tape knot" means a knot designed for attachment.

(52) "Serious injury" means an injury that requires medical treatment, other than first aid, by a physician. "First aid" means the one-time treatment or subsequent observation of scratches, cuts not requiring stitches, minor burns, splinters, and contusions or a diagnostic procedure, including examinations and x-rays, which does not ordinarily require medical treatment even though provided by a physician or other licensed professional personnel.

SECTION 6. (A) It is unlawful for any person to own or operate a bungee jump facility in this State without first having obtained a permit from the department.

(B) Any person desiring to own or operate a bungee jump facility in this state shall file with the department an application in writing on a form approved by the department accompanied by the appropriate fee. Such application shall also include the following:

(1) a site operation manual which includes criteria for planned inspections by the operator;

(3) proof of insurance coverage meeting the requirements set forth in this Chapter;

(4) a licensed mechanical engineer's report certifying that the design and construction of the structures, equipment, access ways, and operating areas meet the requirements of:

(a) regulations promulgated pursuant to this Chapter,

(b) any applicable local laws, codes, or ordinances,

(c) the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee F-24 Standards on Amusement Rides and Devices, fourth edition, 1992 (which is adopted and incorporated in this act by reference and copies of which may be obtained from ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103), and

(d) other applicable government codes, which are certified by the engineer to be suitable for a bungee jumping operation.

(C) An owner or operator must also submit a revised report to the department for approval prior to substantially rebuilding, or substantially modifying, a bungee jump facility.

(D) The department is authorized to charge the following temporary fees until permanent fees are established by regulation:

(1) an initial permit fee of seven hundred dollars;

(2) an annual renewal fee of four hundred fifty dollars;

(3) a report revision fee of two hundred fifty dollars.

(E) In order to carry out the provisions of this chapter, the department shall retain such fees and other funds as may come into its possession pursuant to this chapter.

(F) The department must conduct on-site inspections of each permitted bungee jump facility at least once annually and must also conduct at least two unannounced on-site inspections per year. The inspections may be conducted by department personnel or by independent engineers on an independent contractor basis.

SECTION 7. Before the department may issue a permit to the owner or lessee of a bungee jumping facility, the owner or lessee of the facility shall furnish the department with proof that he has purchased insurance from an acceptable insurer in an amount of not less than one million dollars per occurrence against liability for injury to persons arising out of the use of the facility and that the policy of liability is in effect. The amount of the deductible provision in the policy of insurance is dependent upon the owner's or the lessee's proof of financial responsibility and must

SECTION 8. (A) The owner must allow bungee jumps to be conducted only under the direct control of a jump master.

(B) Adjustments for the weight of each jumper must be made by the jump master's selection of bungee cords and setting on the lowering equipment.

SECTION 9. (A) The owner must secure the consent of a parent or guardian for any jumper who is under the age of 16. The parent or guardian must be over 18 years old and must sign an authorization stating he or she is the jumper's parent or guardian and is consenting to the bungee jump. The authorization must be permanently retained by the owner with the daily log.

(B) The owner must disclose to each jumper all medical conditions which may be adversely affected by jumping. The owner must make disclosure, at a minimum, with respect to the following medical conditions:

(1) pregnancy;

(2) back or neck injury;

(3) heart condition;

(4) broken bone.

(C) Any jumper who, in the opinion of the bungee staff, represents a danger to himself or others shall not be allowed to jump.

(D) Jumpers in an intoxicated state shall not be allowed to jump.

SECTION 10. (A) The permanent platform must be operated with a minimum safe working load (SWL) reflecting a safety factor of not less than 5, as determined by the maximum load for which the platform is designed and constructed. If the jump equipment is attached to the platform as distinct from the structure, the dynamic load factor must be added to the platform load factor.

(C) The platform must have a slip resistant floor surface.

(D) The platform must have sufficient working space for a minimum of three people.

(E) The platform must have anchor points or rails for safety harnesses which are designed and positioned so as not to impede the jump operator's movements.

(F) The platform must be fitted with a permanent enclosure to contain the jumper during preparation.

(G) The jumpers must be prepared for jumping in a place separated from the jump point.

(H) There must be a gate across the jump point to prevent accidental opening when there is not a jumper present on the jump point.

(I) The top of all bungee cords on the platform must be securely attached to the lowering system before each jumper is prepared for jumping and before jumping occurs. All cord connections must be visible to the jump master and checked before each jump.

(J) There must be a plate or permanent marking on each platform indicating the maximum capacity of the platform.

SECTION 11. The jump point shall be no higher than eighty feet above the landing area.

SECTION 12. (A) The owner must provide a safety air bag for each bungee jump. The safety air bag must cover the entire surface area of the jump space. A professional mechanical engineer must certify the height, width, and length of the safety air bag for the height of each bungee jump.

(B) The safety air bag height must be certified or rated by the air bag manufacturer for the height of the bungee jump.

SECTION 13. The owner must comply with the following as to the landing area, recovery area, and jump space:

(1) these areas must be free of spectators at all times;

(2) these areas must be free of any equipment or staff when a jumper is being prepared on the jump point and until the bungee cord is at its static extended state;

(3) the off-loading landing pad or air bag must be positioned before jumper preparation commences on the platform;

(4) the landing pad must be a clean, smooth, padded surface.

SECTION 14. The owner must provide a system for lowering the jumper to the landing pad which must be a mechanically powered system not capable of free fall and operated by the jump master. The owner must

SECTION 15. (A) The bungee cord must be designed and tested to perform within prescribed limits of stretch and load as stated in this act.

(B) The cord must be made from natural or synthetic rubber or blends thereof that may be of various dimensions.

(C) The materials used in the construction of the cord must be such that the stretched length is consistent each time the same loading is applied.

(D) For cord binding the following requirements apply:

(1) the binding must hold the cord threads together in their designed positions;

(2) the binding material must have characteristics or specifications similar to those of the bungee cord material;

(3) the cord bindings must be intact;

(4) where bindings break during a day's operation, the cord must be withdrawn from use until the bindings are replaced;

(E) The following requirements apply to bungee cords:

(1) the cord must stretch in the jump to at least 2.5 times its unloaded length in its designed jumper weight range;

(2) the unloaded length of the system must be less than half the designed extended length;

(3) with respect to maximum loaded length, the operating length of a bungee cord at its maximum designed dynamic load must not exceed four times its unloaded length.

(F) With respect to bungee cord end attachment, each end of the cord must have an end attachment to connect the cord to the lowering system and the jumper. The end attachments must be certified by the manufacturer to be of sufficient size and shape to allow easy attachment to the jumper harness and to the lowering system and have a minimum breaking load of at least four thousand four hundred pounds.

(G) With respect to "maximum cord life", the maximum allowable life of the cord must not exceed one-fourth the tested number of extensions or three hundred jumps, whichever is lower.

(H) A cord and its nonmetallic connectors must be immediately withdrawn from use when any of the following occurs:

(1) the cord reaches its maximum cord life as defined in subsection (F) of this section;

(2) exposure to daylight exceeds two hundred fifty hours;

(4) the cord material reaches the manufacturer's recommended life span or two hundred days, whichever is less;

(5) notwithstanding the cord manufacturer's stated maximum cord life, whenever there is evidence of threads exhibiting wear, such as bunched threads, uneven tension between threads or thread bands;

(6) when the cord comes into contact with solvents or corrosive or abrasive substances.

(I) A cord withdrawn from use must be destroyed. The bungee cord is considered to be destroyed when it is cut into lengths of less than 3 feet.

(J) The owner must ensure that a bumper is used to cover the end of the bungee cord and all connecting straps and devices, where attached to the jumper. The bumper must be at least six inches in diameter and 5 feet in length. The bumper must be fastened in such a manner so as to prevent its slipping up and down the bungee cord.

(K) All bungee cords used in bungee jumping operations must be designed as to thickness and length for the height of the jump so as to prevent the looping of the cord around any part of the jumper's body during a jump.

(L) Each cord must have a permanent serial number. A record detailing the serial number of the cord used for each jumper must be retained by the owner for a period of at least three years.

(M) (1) Each manufacturer desiring to utilize a new design of bungee cord must submit to a professional mechanical engineer for testing one bungee cord which has been constructed using the standard method of manufacture, including the bungee and all attachments, and two three-foot lengths of bungee cord with end attachments to the same specification. Specifications for each cord must also be submitted to the engineer and shall include:

(a) the type of material used in the manufacture of the cord;

(b) thread specifications, including three hundred percent elongation, tensile strength, and elongation at breaking point;

(c) dimensions and number of threads in a cross section of the cord;

(d) method of construction;

(e) method of binding;

(f) jumper weight range for size of cord submitted for testing to produce the extension from 2.5 times to a maximum of four times the unloaded length of the cord;

(g) operational range of dynamic loadings.

(3) The engineer must carry out a cycle frequency test until the load at three hundred percent extension or four times unloaded length reduces to less than the maximum load.

(4) Upon completion of this required testing, the engineer must destroy the full length cord.

(5) For purposes of this section, a new design means:

(a) a change in bungee thread specifications that affects the performance of the bungee threads or cord;

(b) a change in the manufacturing methods or equipment.

SECTION 16. No bungee jump shall be operated unless the owner provides and requires each jumper to use a jumper harness that meets the following requirements:

(1) A jumper harness must be full-body, designed either as a full-body harness or a sit harness with shoulder straps and must be certified by a professional mechanical engineer as being in accordance with the requirements of one of the following:

(a) Chapters A, B, C, and E, General Regulations for the UIAA Label, Ropes for Mountaineering, Carabineers, and Harnesses, respectively, from The Union Internationale Des Associations D'Alpinisme (adopted and incorporated by reference), 1380 Fairfield Woods Road, Fairfield, Connecticut 06430; or

(b) the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1983 Fire Service Life Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware, 1990 Edition (adopted and incorporated by reference), copies of which may be obtained from NFPA, Post Office Box 9101, Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-9101; or

(c) the American National Standards for Construction and Demolition Operations-Requirements for Safety Belts, Harnesses, Lanyards and Lifelines for Construction and Demolition Use approved on July 31, 1991 by the American National Standards Institute, Inc., and published by the National Safety Council, (adopted and incorporated by reference), copies of which may be obtained from National Safety Council, 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, Illinois 60143-3201.

(3) The jumper harness must be certified by a professional mechanical engineer as appropriate for use in bungee jumping and must have a safety factor of not less than 5.

(4) A professional mechanical engineer must certify that the method of attachment and location of attachment for the jumper harness is the safest available.

(5) The use of an ankle strapping or ankle harness in bungee jumping operations is prohibited in this State.

SECTION 17. All ropes for holding or lowering the jumper must have a breaking load of at least four thousand nine hundred pounds and must be certified by a professional mechanical engineer as being in accordance with the requirements of one of the following:

(1) Chapters A, B, C, and E General Regulations for the UIAA Label, Ropes for Mountaineering, Carabineers, and Harnesses, respectively, from The Union Internationale Des Associations D'Alpinisme; or

(2) The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1983 Fire Service Life Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware, 1990 Edition; or

(3) The American National Standards for Construction and Demolition Operations-Requirements for Safety Belts, Harnesses, Lanyards and Lifelines for Construction and Demolition Use, approved on July 31, 1991, by the American National Standards Institute, Inc., and Published by the National Safety Council.

SECTION 18. (A) Carabineers must be of the steel screw gate type with a breaking load of at least four thousand four hundred pounds and must be certified by a professional mechanical engineer as being in accordance with requirements of one of the following:

(1) Chapters A, B, C, and E, General Regulations for the UIAA Label, Ropes for Mountaineering, Carabineers, and Harnesses, respectively, from The Union Internationale Des Associations D'Alpinisme; or

(2) The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1983 Fire Service Life Safety Rope, Harness, and Hardware, 1990 Edition; or

(3) The American National Standards for Construction and Demolition Operations-Requirements for Safety Belts, Harnesses, Lanyards and Lifelines for Construction and Demolition Use, approved on July 31, 1991, by the American National Standards Institute, Inc., and published by the National Safety Council.

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